Protecting helmet with raising/lowering mechanism of the visor

ABSTRACT

A protecting helmet is disclosed having a rigid outer shell, a front opening for the face of a user, and a protective visor having a raising/lowering mechanism. The raising/lowering mechanism has a base member, movably or integrally constrained to, or made in a single piece with, the outer shell and arranged in a side position with respect to the front opening and a fastening pin constrained in a respective opening of the protective visor. The base member has a seat adapted to rotatably and reversibly house the fastening pin; and the mechanism has member, a first magnetic-coupling member being constrained to, or made in a single piece with, the fastening pin, and a second magnetic-coupling member being constrained to, or made in a single piece with, the base member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority from Italian PatentApplication No. 102018000007545, filed Jul. 26, 2018, the contents ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a protecting helmet, for example of thetype used in the motorcycling field and in particular with vehiclesdevoid of a passenger compartment, comprising, in addition to a linerintended to accommodate the user's head and at least one inner shellmade of a shock-absorbing material, such as expanded polystyrene, atleast one rigid outer shell defining a front opening for the user'sface, as well as a visor that can be raised and lowered with respect tosuch front opening, thanks to a respective mechanism.

More in detail, the present invention concerns a protecting helmetprovided with a rigid outer shell, for example made of compositematerial or polycarbonate or yet of another appropriate thermoplasticmaterial, and at least one protective visor normally made of transparentpolycarbonate and constrained to the outer shell by means of a relativeraising/lowering mechanism which makes it at least rotatable between alowered position intercepting, at least partially, the front opening ofthe helmet and a raised position completely disengaged from the latter,and which allows to reversibly constrain the visor of the helmet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the art, it is known to provide protecting helmets, especially formotorcycling or motor use in general, with a raising/lowering mechanismof the protective visor with respect to the front opening of the helmetwhich allows the visor to rotate around a given axis. Moreover, suchmechanisms can provide intermediate positions for the visor. When theprotective visor is completely lowered, it is in proximity of the outershell and adheres to the gaskets, if present, or anyhow to the sides ofthe frame delimiting the front opening; when the visor is raised in anintermediate position intercepting, partially, the front opening, thedistance between the visor and the gaskets, or between the visor and thesides of the front opening, allows an adequate air flow inside thehelmet, whereas when the visor is completely raised, it remains in closeproximity of the outer shell and reduces overall dimensions andincidence surface with the air flow that strikes it when the vehicle isin motion.

Moreover, a similar raising/lowering mechanism can further allow thevisor to be arranged flush with the ends of the outer shell surroundingthe aforesaid front opening when it is in its completely loweredposition and to simultaneously be easily raised by the user thanks tothe translation of the protective visor itself away from the frontopening, allowed by such raising/lowering mechanism.

It should be noted that, for simplicity, here and hereinafter, theprotective visor of the helmet is to be understood as being in itscompletely lowered position when it completely, or almost completely,covers the aforesaid front opening of the helmet and as being in itscompletely raised position when it does not or almost does not interfereat all with such front opening.

Although effective, the various known structures have a highconstructive complexity. As a result, they are difficult and costly toproduce.

Moreover, given the high number of members which must cooperate witheach other, it is difficult for the user to assemble and disassemble thevisor from the helmet.

An object of the present invention is to provide a protecting helmetprovided with a raising/lowering mechanism of the protective visor whichallows to move the protective visor in an effective and structurallynon-complex manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protectinghelmet having a raising/lowering mechanism of the protective visor whichallows the user to easily assemble and disassemble the protective visorfrom the helmet.

A further object of the present invention is to make a protecting helmetwhich allows to effectively manage the raising and lowering of therespective protective visor by means of a raising/lowering mechanismthat can easily be implemented on the helmet itself.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects are achieved by the protecting helmet accordingto embodiments of the present invention, according to one or more of theaccompanying claims. In particular, a helmet according to the firstindependent claim is object of the present invention, whereas preferredaspects are set forth in its successive dependent claims.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a protecting helmetcomprises an inner shock-absorbing shell and a rigid outer shell whichdefine a front opening for the user's face, as well as a protectivevisor at least rotatable between a lowered position intercepting, atleast partially, the front opening and a raised position disengaged fromthe front opening. The helmet further comprises a raising/loweringmechanism (and of constraint/release) of the protective visor, and theraising/lowering mechanism in turn comprises:

-   -   at least one base member, movably or integrally constrained to,        or made in a single piece with, the outer shell, arranged in a        side position with respect to the front opening;    -   at least one fastening pin constrained inside a relative opening        of the protective visor.

The base member comprises a seat adapted to reversibly accommodate thefastening pin, and the mechanism comprises at least a first and a secondmagnetic-coupling members. The first magnetic-coupling member isconstrained to, or made in a single piece with, the fastening pin,whereas the second magnetic-coupling member is constrained to, or madein a single piece with, the base member.

A so-made raising/lowering mechanism is not complex to make and is thussimple and economic to produce. Moreover, during the assembly step ofthe visor to the helmet, the two magnetic-coupling members attract eachother such as to guide the assembly of the visor on the helmet.

In particular, during the assembly, the user brings the visor closer tothe helmet, which is attracted in the operative position by theinteraction between the magnetic-coupling members. The user thus doesnot have to carry out complex operations to center the visor on thehelmet.

The present solution thus provides a mechanism that allows a simplereversible coupling of the visor on the helmet.

According to a possible aspect of the invention, both the first andsecond magnetic-coupling members are magnets. However, the embodimentwhich provides a magnet and a respective member made of ferromagneticmaterial, or anyhow of a material adapted to be attracted by a magnet,is not to be excluded.

According to a possible further aspect of the invention, the base membercomprises a body and a lid constrained to the body.

According to a possible aspect of the invention, the base membercomprises an unlocking device adapted to release the fastening pin fromthe seat. By operating on such device, the user can remove the visorfrom the helmet in a simple manner.

According to a possible aspect of the invention, the unlocking device istranslationally movable within the base member.

According to a possible further aspect, the unlocking device comprises aslot interposed between the first and the second magnetic-couplingmembers.

Still according to a possible further aspect of the invention, the seatof the base member comprises at least one elastic countering member.This allows to carry out a reversible coupling between the helmet andvisor in a simple manner.

According to a possible further aspect, the mobile member comprises atoothed portion adapted to cooperate with one or more protuberances ofthe visor. This allows to define intermediate opening positions of thevisor.

According to a possible further aspect, the base member comprises ahousing portion made in the outer shell or integrally constrained to theouter shell, wherein the body is constrained, preferably rotatably, tothe housing portion. This provides a further degree of freedom to thevisor.

According to a possible aspect, the unlocking device comprises at leastone protuberance adapted to move and/or deform the at least one elasticcountering member.

According to a possible aspect, the elastic countering member comprisesa body coupled to a spring.

According to a possible aspect, the elastic countering member comprisesa tilted surface adapted to cooperate with the fastening pin, so that atranslation of the fastening pin towards the elastic countering membercauses a movement and/or deformation of the elastic countering member toallow the fastening pin to be inserted into the seat.

In other words, when a user couples the visor to the helmet, i.e. bringsthe fastening pin towards the respective seat, the pin comes intocontact with the elastic countering member, which opposes littleresistance, thus allowing a user to easily insert the pin in the seat.

According to a possible aspect, the elastic countering member has acoupling surface adapted to cooperate with the fastening pin, so that atranslation of the fastening pin away from the seat is hampered, and ispreferably substantially prevented, by the cooperation between thefastening pin and the coupling surface when the fastening pin is placedwithin the seat.

“Substantially prevented” means that the removal of the visor from thehelmet is only possible by applying a considerable force to the visor,possibly causing the deformation or breakage of the helmet, i.e. that itis not possible with a normal helmet use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and further aspects of the present invention will be describedherein in more detail, by way of example and without any limitations,with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a helmet according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the raising/lowering mechanism of thevisor of the helmet of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view from a framing opposite to what is shown inFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the base member of the mechanism of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4a is a detail of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to the one of FIG. 4, but from an oppositeframing;

FIG. 5a is a detailed view of the pin and the respective magnetic memberwhich are adapted to cooperate with the visor, according to theperspective of FIG. 5;

FIG. 5b is an enlarged view of the elastic countering member;

FIG. 6 is a partial view of a detail of the visor;

FIG. 6a is an enlarged view of the guide of the base member;

FIGS. 6b and 6c are schematic views of the coupling between the guide ofFIG. 6a and the hooking pin of the visor, in different positions of thevisor with respect to the shell;

FIGS. 7a-7b-7c show successive coupling steps of the pin of the visorwith the seat of the shell;

FIGS. 7d-7f are schematic views of that which is shown in FIGS. 7a -7 c;

FIG. 8 is a partial view of members of the helmet of FIG. 1, along theB-B plane of FIG. 1, in which the visor is shown separated from thehelmet;

FIG. 9 is a partial view of members of the helmet of FIG. 1, along theA-A plane of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a view of a pin of an alternative embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a view of a body adapted to couple with the pin of FIG. 10;and

FIGS. 12a and 12b are schematic views showing the coupling between thepin and the body of FIGS. 10 and 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In general, with reference to the accompanying figures, the protectinghelmet 1 according to the present invention, preferably adapted for usewith vehicles devoid of a passenger compartment, such as motorcycles orsnowmobiles, according to the known art comprises a rigid outer shell 2,for example made of polycarbonate or ABS (Acrylonitrile ButadieneStyrene), or also of glass fiber, or carbon or aramid fiber (i.e.:Kevlar®), etc. The rigid outer shell 2 (hereinafter also “shell 2”) istypically internally covered by a layer (also denoted by “inner shell,”not shown in the figures) made of a material that is able to absorb anyshock, such as expanded polystyrene. A liner, not shown in detail, forexample in foam rubber, is typically arranged inside the helmet 1 tofavor the comfort of the user.

At least one front opening 3 of the protection helmet 1, which leavespart of the face uncovered, and in particular at least the eyes of theuser of the helmet 1, is defined in the shell 2. Such front opening 3 issusceptible to being covered, at least partially, by a protective visor4, usually transparent, constrained at least in a rotatable manner tothe shell 2 of the helmet itself.

The protective visor 4 (hereinafter also “visor 4”) is normally made ofa polymeric material such as polycarbonate, and is constrained to theouter shell 2 of the protecting helmet 1 by means of a raising/loweringmechanism 10 of the visor 4 itself. In particular, the raising/loweringmechanism (for simplicity also named “mechanism 10”) allows theprotective visor 4 to be raised and lowered between a positionintercepting, at least partially and preferably completely, the frontopening 3 of the helmet 1 and a position disengaged, completely oralmost completely disengaged, from this front opening 3. As is known,the aforesaid intercepting position assumed by the protective visor 4coincides with the completely lowered position, whereas the aforesaiddisengaged position corresponds to the completely raised position of thevisor 4 itself.

The mechanism 10 comprises at least one base member 12, movably orintegrally constrained to, or at least partially made in a single piecewith, the shell 2. Such mechanism is arranged in a side position withrespect to the front opening 3.

The base member 12 is typically composed of several components. At leastpart of such components can be made in a single piece, or anyhowintegrally constrained to the shell 2.

In the shown embodiment, the base member comprises a body 13 constrainedto a housing portion 15 obtained in the shell 2. The body 13 isrotatably constrained, with a limited freedom of rotation, with respectto the housing portion 15. An elastic return member 132 adjusts therelative rotation between the body 13 and the housing portion 15. In apossible embodiment, the body 13 is rotatably constrained to the housingportion 15 in a similar manner as the one described in EP 3132702 A1.

A lid 14 is adapted to cover the body 13. The lid 14 is preferablyperforated, so that to allow the passage of at least part of a fasteningpin 41 (better described below) integrally constrained to the visor 4.

As mentioned above, the solution shown in the figures is only a possibleembodiment of a helmet 1 according to the present invention. Differentvariants are possible. By way of example, some possible alternativeembodiments are listed hereunder (such list is not to be consideredexhaustive).

In a possible variant, the lid 14 is not present.

In a possible further variant, the lid 14 is made in a single piece withthe body 13.

In a possible further variant, the housing portion 15 is a memberdistinct from the shell 2 and is typically integrally constrainedthereto.

In a possible further variant, the body 13 is integrally constrained tothe housing portion 15.

In a possible further variant, the body 13 is made in a single piecewith the shell 2.

Possible further variants have combinations of the features of thevariants described above.

In general, the base member 12 is designed to be constrained to theshell 2 and to rotatably and reversibly receive the fastening pin 41.

In order to cooperate with the fastening pin 41 (hereinafter also “pin41”), better described below, the base member 12 comprises at least oneseat 130 adapted to reversibly house, or to anyhow be constrained to,the pin 41. In particular, the seat 130 is shaped so that to allow thepin 41 to rotate with respect to the base member, despite beingreversibly restrained by it. Typically, such effect is achieved byallowing a sliding between the fastening pin 41 and the seat 130.

Preferably, the seat 130 has at least one elastic countering member 131.In the shown embodiment, there are two elastic countering members 131arranged facing each other.

“Elastic countering member” is to be understood as a member that iselastically movable and/or elastically deformable (or anyhow elasticallyyielding).

In the embodiment shown, the elastic countering members 131 are springmembers. In particular, according to a preferred embodiment, the elasticcountering members have a body 131 a constrained to a spring 131 b. Thebody 131 a is thus movable, and its movement is countered by the spring131 b. Typically, the spring 131 b pushes the elastic countering membersto a “closed” position of the seat 130, i.e. a position that does notallow the pin to be inserted into or to come out of the seat 130 withoutdisplacing the elastic countering members 131.

Preferably, the elastic countering members 131 are shaped so that, whenthey come into contact with the pin 41, they allow (i.e. do not oppose,or oppose with little resistance) the pin 41 to move towards the shell 2and the pin 41 entering the seat 130. Moreover, the elastic counteringmembers 131 are shaped so that to resist a moving away movement betweenthe pin 41 and the shell 2 if the pin is inside the seat 130.Preferably, for such purpose, the elastic countering members 131(hereinafter also “countering members”) are flared, or anyhow providedwith a tilted surface S1 (as shown in particular in FIGS. 7a-7f )typically facing the outside of the helmet (i.e. not facing the shell2). The contact between the pin 41 and the elastic countering members131, in a direction of the pin 41 moving towards the shell 2, causes theelastic countering members to move away. In particular, in theembodiment shown, the pin 41 slides along the surface S1 of eachcountering member 131, causing the separation thereof and countering theaction of the spring 131 b. The surface S1 is typically arranged on thebody 131 a of the elastic countering members 131.

In the shown embodiment, as will be better discussed below, the pin 41has a flange 41 a, or anyhow a protrusion or portion adapted tocooperate with the countering members 131. With particular reference toFIGS. 7a-7f , when the pin 41 moves towards the shell, the flange 41 apushes the tilted surface S1 of the countering members 131 so that tomove them away, countering the action of the spring 131 b, to be able togo beyond them. When the pin 41 is inside the seat (as visible in FIG.7c , and in the schematic view 70, a possible moving away of the pin 41from the shell 2 (i.e. a movement towards the right, considering theorientation of FIGS. 7c and 7f ) is hampered by the engagement betweenthe countering members 131 and the pin 41, and in particular between thepin 41 and a coupling surface S2 of the countering members 131. Suchcoupling surface S2, when coupled to the flange 41 a, is arranged tointerfere with the flange 41 a, and is typically arranged substantiallyparallel to the flange 41 a.

The above description is also applied to elastic countering members 131that are elastically deformable, possibly not provided with a spring. Inother words, the coupling between the pin 41 and the elastic counteringmember 131 could substantially be a snap-coupling, or anyhow a shapecoupling. For example, a first surface (similar to the tilted surfaceS1) could be deformed by the movement of the pin 41 towards the seat130, favoring the entry thereof. A second surface (similar to thecoupling surface) could instead be coupled to the pin 41 in asubstantially non-deformable manner, when the latter is inside the seat130, so that to counter its coming out.

According to a preferred aspect shown in the figures, the base member 12comprises an unlocking device 16 designed to allow the release of thepin 41 from the seat 130.

Preferably, the unlocking device 16 is movable so that its movementoperates onto the seat 130 (and in particular on the elastic counteringmembers 131), so that the pin 41 can be released from the seat 130. Inparticular, the unlocking device 16 is preferably at least translatablewith respect to the shell 2.

According to a possible aspect, the unlocking device 16 comprises ahandle 16 b, or similar member, that allows a user to grasp and operatethe unlocking device 16.

With reference to the embodiment shown in the figures, the unlockingdevice 16 preferably comprises at least one protuberance 16 a (FIG. 4a )adapted to cooperate at least with one tilted (or at least partlytilted) surface 131 c (FIG. 5b ) of the countering members 131.Typically, the number of protuberances 16 a is equal to the number ofcountering members 131. In fact, two countering members 131 and twoprotuberances 16 a of the unlocking device 16 are shown in the figures.

By moving the unlocking device 16 (downwards with reference to theorientation of the pieces shown in FIG. 4a ), the protuberances 16 acouple with tilted walls 131 c of the countering members 131, so that toseparate them. According to a possible aspect, the unlocking device 16comprises protrusions 16 d adapted to favor the movement of the pin 41in a direction axial to the pin itself. In particular, after the pin 41has been released from the countering members 131, the protrusions 16 dcome into contact with the lower part of the flange 41 a that is on thepin 41. The obstacle provided by the coupling surfaces S2 of thecountering members 131 no longer being present, the coupling betweenthese protrusions 16 d and the pin 41 causes an axial translationtowards the outside of the visor which is consequently gradually movedaway and ejected from the seat 130.

Preferably, the movement of the unlocking device 16 in the directionthat allows to release the pin 41 from the seat 130 is hampered by aspring 16 c, or by a similar elastic device. The unlocking device 16 ispreferably placed between the body 13 and the lid 14. This way, when theunlocking member 16 is not operated, it automatically stays positionedunderneath the lid 14 and its protrusions 16 d do not obstruct thepossible entry of the pin 41 of the visor into the seat 12.

However, there are possible embodiments in which, to release the pin 41from the seat 130, it is sufficient to exert a force above a giventhreshold, so that to move and/or deform the countering members 131. Forsafety reasons, such force must be sufficiently high, so that to preventthe visor 4 from being released from the shell 2. In such embodiments,the unlocking device could be absent.

According to a possible embodiment, the base member 12 comprises atoothed portion 133, adapted to cooperate with one or more protuberances4 b of the visor 4. The coupling between the protuberances 4 b and thetoothed portion 133 allows to define a stable angular position of thevisor 4 with respect to the shell 2. By operating a force above a giventhreshold on the visor 4, it is possible to elastically move and/ordeform the toothed portion 133 (by compressing the springs 133 a forexample), so that to allow the visor 4 to move with respect to thestable position mentioned.

Moreover, preferably, the base portion 12 is provided with a guide 151adapted to cooperate with a hooking pin 4 c of the visor 4. The hookingpin 4 c preferably is, in a side view, substantially “L-shaped,” so thata portion of the hooking pin couples to the guide 151. In particular,the guide 151 has a groove 151 a of variable depth along its length. Thehooking pin 4 c can be made in a single piece with the visor, or it canbe a member constrained thereto.

The hooking pin 4 c thus couples with the guide 151 so that a partthereof (typically the short side of the “L”) at least partially entersthe groove 151 a, as schematically shown in FIG. 6b . In such condition,the coupling between the hooking pin 4 c and the groove 151 a of theguide 151 contributes in preventing an accidental detachment between thevisor 4 and the shell 2. The groove 151 a is shaped so that when thevisor 4 is in the position of maximum opening, its height is null, asschematically shown in FIG. 6c . In such condition, the hooking pin 4 cis not restrained by the guide 151. Instead, in other positions of thevisor 4, preferably there is the coupling between the hooking pin 4 cand the groove 151 a such as to prevent a moving away movement betweenthe shell 2 and the visor 4. This way, it is only possible to carry outthe removal of the visor 4 from the shell 2 when the visor 4 is in itsposition of maximum opening.

According to a possible aspect, the groove 151 a can have hollowsadapted to define predetermined positions for the hooking pin 4 c (andthus for the visor). Such positions typically have certain stability,such as small forces are not sufficient to move the hooking pin 4 c outof one of the hollows.

The pin 41 can be integrally constrained to the visor 4, for example byinserting it into a respective opening 4 a of the visor 4. Moreover, thepin 41 is configured to cooperate with the seat 130 so that toselectively allow to constrain and release the visor 4 from the shell 2.

As mentioned, in a possible embodiment, the pin 41 has a flange 41 aadapted for selectively constraining and releasing the pin in asubstantially “snap-fit” manner with the countering members 131 of theseat 130.

With reference to the figures, in a possible embodiment, the pin 41 hasa substantially two-dimensional base 41 b from which a hollowcylindrical member 41 c protrudes. The flange 41 a is obtained on theouter wall of the cylindrical member 41 c. It should be noted that“flange” means any portion or protrusion protruding sideways from thehollow cylindrical member 41 c.

It should be noted that in a possible variant, the pin 41 could beprovided with a groove, inside which a portion of a relevant counteringmember 131 could be coupled, for example by a snap-coupling.

As mentioned, the mechanism 10 comprises at least a first and a secondmagnetic-coupling member 11 a, 11 b. Typically, at least one of the twomagnetic-coupling members 11 a, 11 b is a magnet, whereas the othermember can be made of magnetic or ferromagnetic material. Forconvenience of description, such members will henceforth also bereferred to as “magnetic members,” without excluding that one of suchmembers can actually be made, at least in part, of ferromagneticmaterial.

The first magnetic member 11 a is constrained, or made in a singlepiece, with the fastening pin 41. In the shown embodiment, the firstmagnetic member 11 a is a magnet inserted inside the cylindrical member41 c of the pin 41. A portion of the pin 41 could be made of magnetic orferromagnetic material. Such embodiment falls within the “magneticmember made in a single piece with the pin 41” definition.

A second magnetic member 11 b is constrained to, or made in a singlepiece with, the base member 12. In the shown embodiment, the secondmagnetic member 11 b is a magnet constrained to the lid 14 of the basemember 12.

The magnetic members 11 a, 11 b are arranged so that, when the visor 4is assembled on the shell 2, the two magnetic members are sufficientlyclose to attract each other, so that to counter the removal of the visor4 from the shell 2.

In particular, according to a preferred aspect described above, the pin41 must move and/or deform the countering members 131 in order to beinserted inside the seat 130. The magnetic members are thus preferablyshaped and arranged so that, when the pin 41 is arranged in proximity ofthe seat 130, the force of attraction between the two magnetic members11 a, 11 b is greater than the resistance of the countering members 131.In other words, the moving of the two magnetic members 11 a, 11 b closerone to the other is sufficient to cause the insertion of the pin 41 intothe seat 130, without requiring further external forces, in particularwithout requiring the user to push.

In a possible embodiment shown in FIGS. 10-12 b, the flange 41 acooperates with at least one tooth 134. Preferably, there are two ormore teeth 134. The following description, for simplicity, discusses thecase of two teeth 134, but it can also be applied to a different number,i.e. greater or lower, of teeth 134. The pin 41 is rotatable withrespect to the teeth 134 (or to the single tooth 134), so that to definerelative positions between the flange 41 a and teeth 134 in which theteeth 134 couple with the flange 41 a and hamper the pin 41 from movingaway from the shell 2, and relative positions in which such movement isnot hampered.

The teeth 134 are integrally constrained to the base member 12,preferably to the body 13. The flange 41 a has missing portions 41 b,which can be placed at the teeth 134. In particular, the teeth 134 arearranged on the base member 12 so that when the pin 41 is moved towardsthe shell 2, so that to be inserted into the seat 130, the teeth 134 arearranged at the missing portions 41 b of the flange 41 a. The movementof the pin 41 is thus not hampered by the presence of the teeth 134.Typically, the matching between the teeth 134 and portions 41 b occursat a position of full opening of the visor 4. Successively, when the pin41 is inserted into the seat 130 and the visor is at least partiallyclosed, the tooth 134 (and in particular the head of the tooth 134) isat the flange 41 a. The pin 41 is thus hampered from possibly movingaway from the seat 2 also by the engagement of the teeth 134 and theflange 41 a of the pin.

It should be noted that only some members of the helmet 1 are shown inFIGS. 10-12 b. The remaining members are substantially identical tothose in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-9. Minor shape modifications can bemade to such members so that to ensure sufficient space to the teeth134.

In use, a visor 4 is initially separated from the shell 2. Then, thevisor is moved towards the shell 2, so that to bring the pin 41 in theproximity of the respective seat 130.

As mentioned above, according to a preferred aspect, thanks to suchnearing, the visor 4 is automatically hooked to the shell 2. Theattraction between the two magnetic members in fact allows the pin 41 toenter the seat 130. In particular, with reference to the preferredembodiment described above, the attraction between the magnetic members11 a, 11 b allows the pin 41 to move and/or deform the counteringmembers 131 of the seat 130.

Such situation is shown in FIGS. 7a-7c and is further schematized inFIGS. 7d -7 f. In FIGS. 7a and 7d , the pin 41 is placed in theproximity of the seat 130. In FIGS. 7b and 7e , the pin 41 is furthermoved towards the seat 130 and comes into contact with the counteringmembers 131 so that to move them, separating them. In particular,according to the embodiment shown, the flange 41 a cooperates with thetilted surface 51 of the countering members 131.

In FIGS. 7c and 7f , the pin 41 has definitely entered the seat 130. Inparticular, in the embodiment shown, the flange 41 a has gone beyond thecountering members 131. The visor 4 is thus rotatably constrained to theshell 2.

The pin 41 can in fact rotate inside the seat 130. Whenever the visor 4needs to be released from the shell 2, the pin 41 must be removed fromthe seat 130. Typically, the seat 130 hampers such movement. Withreference to the embodiment shown, the pin 41 is in the condition ofFIG. 7c . A possible moving of the visor 4 away from the shell 2 (i.e. amovement towards the right, considering the orientation of FIG. 7c ), ishampered by the engagement between the flange 41 a and the couplingsurface S2 of the countering members 131.

It should be noted that the embodiment shown in the figures and hereindiscussed in detail provides that the countering members are providedwith tilted surfaces 51, whereas the side surface of the pin 41 issubstantially parallel to the axis of the pin itself. Alternative andequivalent embodiments provide that also (or only) the pin 41 isequipped with tilted surfaces. It is thus possible to providealternative and equivalent solutions which implement the kinematicreversals with respect to that which has been shown.

In order to allow the movement of the pin 41, a user thus preferablyoperates on the unlocking device 16.

In the shown embodiment, a user operates on the handle 16 b to push theunlocking device 16. This way, the protuberances 16 a come into contactwith the tilted walls 131 c present on the countering members 131,separating them. Thanks to this, the countering members 131 aresufficiently spaced to allow the removal of the pin 41 from the seat130, and thus the separation of the visor 4 from the shell 2. Bycontinuing to exert the thrust on the unlocking device 16, theprotrusions 16 d begin to act on the pin 41, causing the visor 4 toaxially move away from the seat 130, i.e. an ejection thereof from themechanism 10.

Moreover, in the shown embodiment, the operation on the unlocking devicecan only be carried out when the visor 4 is in its position of maximumopening. In this configuration, the hooking pin 4 c is not restrained bythe grooved guide 151 and, consequently, the visor 4 can definitely bemoved away from the mechanism 10 of the helmet.

With reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 10-12 b, in the closedposition, in addition to the members mentioned above, the engagement ofthe teeth 134 and flange 41 a also hinders the removal of the visor.Instead, in the open position, the teeth 134 are placed at the missingportions 41 b, so that the movement of the pin 41 is not hampered by theteeth 134.

1. A helmet comprising a rigid outer shell, a front opening in saidrigid shell for the face of a user, a protective visor rotatable betweena lowered position intercepting, at least partially, the front openingand a raised position disengaged from said front opening, and araising/lowering mechanism to raise/lower the protective visor, theraising/lowering mechanism comprising: a) a base member, movably orintegrally constrained to, or made in a single piece with, the outershell, and arranged in a side position with respect to said frontopening; b) a fastening pin constrained in a respective opening of theprotective visor; wherein said base member comprises a seat adapted torotatably and reversibly house said fastening pin; and wherein saidmechanism comprises a first and a second magnetic-coupling member, saidfirst magnetic-coupling member being constrained to, or made in a singlepiece with, said fastening pin, said second magnetic-coupling memberbeing constrained to, or made in a single piece with, said base member.2. The helmet according to claim 1, wherein said base member comprises abody and a lid constrained to said body.
 3. The helmet according toclaim 1, wherein said seat of said base member comprises an elasticcountering member.
 4. The helmet according to claim 1, wherein said basemember comprises an unlocking device adapted to release said fasteningpin from said seat.
 5. The helmet according to claim 4, wherein saidunlocking device is translationally movable within said base member. 6.The helmet according to claim 4, wherein said unlocking device comprisesa protuberance adapted to move and/or deform said elastic counteringmember.
 7. The helmet according to claim 1, wherein said unlockingdevice comprises a protrusion adapted to cooperate with said fasteningpin so as to axially move said fastening pin to move said visor awayfrom the seat of the mechanism.
 8. The helmet according to claim 1,wherein said base member comprises a toothed portion adapted tocooperate with one or more protuberances of said visor.
 9. The helmetaccording to claim 1, wherein said base member comprises a housingportion made in said outer shell or integrally constrained to said outershell, wherein said body is constrained, optionally in a rotatablemanner, to said housing portion.
 10. The helmet according to claim 1,wherein both said first and second magnetic-coupling members aremagnets.